Things to Do in St Thomas

St. Thomas is a hugely popular Eastern Caribbean cruise destination, and is well set-up for shore visitors. With great shopping, sightseeing and beach relaxation in easy reach, there’s everything you need for a perfect day ashore on a holiday island. Along with St. John, St. Croix and Water Island, St. Thomas is part of the US Virgin Islands, sprinkled amongst the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles. The British Virgin Islands are neighbors to the east, and Puerto Rico is around 40 miles (64km) away to the west.

How to Get to Charlotte Amalie Ships drop anchor in Charlotte Amalie’s harbor, only a few minutes’ ride from downtown by tender. Once on dry land, all the amenities, duty-free shopping, Danish architecture and boutique-lined laneways are at your fingertips. Most shops are on Veterans Drive and Main Street. The best way to travel further afield on St. Thomas is by organized tour or taxi.

In the old days of Imperial Empires and the early colonization of the Caribbean, tall ships would set their ballasts with huge stones and offload them when filling up with spices and other exotic Caribbean goods, leaving the stones as a reminder of their visit. Intrepid residents of Charlotte Amalie in St Thomas have since decided to use these stones as a stairway up the city’s hills, which serves to remind residents of their colonial roots.

What makes the 99 Steps (there are actually 103; 99 Steps has a better ring to it) an attraction, however, is the lush foliage on either side of the stairway and the spectacular view from high atop the mountain once you make the climb. At the top you'll see Black Beard’s Castle. Innovative explorers have learned that a cab can be taken up to the top to avoid walking up 103 stairs. It’s easy, however, to take the 99 Steps downward at a leisurely pace.

High above Charlotte Amalie is Skytsborg (“sky tower”), a round defensive tower built by the Danish in 1679 to watch for enemy ships which might attack Fort Christian and other harbor settlements. While there was a real pirate called Blackbeard (Edward Teach) who prowled nearby waters, his association with the site owes more to tradition than history.

And anyway, who needs a history lesson when you have one of the great Caribbean views laid out before you. The visual feast encompasses dramatic green slopes, bobbing yachts, hulking cruise ships and outlying islands. Facilities at the site include a swimming pool and snack bar.

Honeymoon Beach is a peaceful cove characterized by a long, soft sandy beach that gently curves against the turquoise sea and is framed by palm trees and lush greenery. Though often visited by those vacationing on the Caribbean island of St Thomas, Honeymoon Beach is actually located on Water Island, a tiny isle that is a short distance offshore from St Thomas. Both islands are part of the US Virgin Islands. Honeymoon Beach provides a respite from the harried shoppers in Charlotte Amalie and is a good alternative to St Thomas' popular Magens Bay.

Honeymoon Beach provides an ideal respite for travelers to forget their lingering work stress from back home and just relax. The beach has a large stretch of sand next to calm waters, making it an ideal place to swim. Restaurants, bars and bathrooms are also conveniently adjacent to the beach.

Located on the western edge of St Thomas’ harbor, Hassel Island was once part of a peninsula. But the Danish government decided that separating it from St Thomas would create better water circulation in the harbor, so in the 1860s Hassel Island was born. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers widened the channel again in 1919, further separating the island from St Thomas.

Today, it is primarily a national park and a popular spot with visitors to St Thomas. Hassel Island is best explored via a kayaking, hiking or snorkeling tour, all of which give visitors a combination of a history lesson and an eco-adventure. And although it is primarily governed as a national park, there are several private estates on the remaining land, including a 10-acre compound with three houses totaling 15,000 square feet.